The International Wood Products Association announced the launch of its responsible-trade initiative with Burma.

The initiative will promote forest management reform in Burma and is made possible by a license recently issued to IWPA by the U.S. Treasury Department that enables trade and other commercial contacts between U.S. wood importers and Burmese industry and government agencies involved in the timber trade, according to the association.

The Treasury Department license covers all IWPA voting and associate members.

“IWPA’s goal is to be a positive force in Burma by encouraging the development of independent legality verification and sustainable management of Burma’s forest resources,” IWPA executive director Cindy Squires said in a statement. “Currently, logging legality verification programs are in their infancy in Burma and our plan is that by launching direct trade with the country we can provide critical market support for the establishment of such programs.“